How the Warm Home Discount can cut your energy bill if you are on benefits

The Warm Home Discount gives you £150 off your electricity bill in winter. If you claim Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, you may get this money without even applying.

Around 6 million households in England, Scotland, and Wales will benefit in the 2026–27 scheme year. The government has confirmed the scheme will carry on until 2030/31, so you can plan around it for years to come.

Who qualifies

You are likely to qualify if you or your partner receive one of these benefits, and your name is on the electricity account:

• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit (savings credit element)

Your energy supplier checks your eligibility using government records. You do not need to do anything in most cases.

How the £150 is paid

The discount is not sent to you as cash. It is taken off your electricity bill directly, and you will see it as a credit on your account.

For about 96 in every 100 eligible households, this happens automatically. Your supplier gets your details from the government and applies the credit.

A small number of people need to contact their supplier to confirm they qualify. If you think you are eligible but have not heard anything by the end of 2026, get in touch with your supplier or ask Citizens Advice for help.

When to expect it

The 2026–27 scheme year runs from April 2026 to March 2027. Payments start in October 2026. Most households see the credit land on their account between October and March.

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What to do now

You have a few months before payments begin. Use this time to get ready:

• Make sure the electricity account is in your name, or your partner's name.
• Keep your Universal Credit or Housing Benefit claim up to date — your supplier checks these records to confirm you qualify.
• If you move home before October, tell your energy supplier and update your benefits claim. Both sets of records need to match.

If you switch energy supplier

Your eligibility does not disappear if you switch. But the discount does not transfer automatically. Let your new supplier know you may qualify and ask when they will apply the credit.

Getting more energy support

The Warm Home Discount is one of several ways to cut your energy costs. Citizens Advice can tell you about free insulation and heating improvements through the Energy Company Obligation scheme, which is open to households on a low income.